Estate agents and property group Andrews and its principal shareholder Andrews Charitable Trust have received a prestigious national award for their work to support young people leaving the care sector.
The Keynsham-based group topped the Charity Partnership: Fashion and Retail category of the Business Charity Awards, staged as part of Fundraising Week.
Andrews set up “[establish]”, an ambitious social housing project, as the central part of its 70th anniversary fundraising campaign. It raised £70,000 to kick-start the initiative, previously called Project70 (P70).
Last month it unveiled its first house – a five-storey property in Lawrence Hill – to support vulnerable young people in Bristol in partnership with local charity 1625 Independent People. The first tenants have now moved in and the property was showcased in its successful entry award.
The Business Charity Awards judges were particularly impressed with the inclusive approach that the Andrews’ team took to make this fundraising initiative a success. Not only were all team members across the entire Andrews’ branch network involved in fundraising initiatives, ranging from competitive bake-offs through to skydives and marathons, but two members of staff have also been trained by 1625 Independent People to act as volunteer mentors to the young people living in the “[establish]” house.
The programme’s longevity was also recognised by the judges. Andrews plans to set up 50 such houses over the long term, spread across the West and South of England to mirror its estate agency network.
The next house is anticipated to launch in South London later this year.
These properties will not only support vulnerable people as they leave the care system and make their own way in life, but will also provide them with the chance to join Andrews through work placements, apprenticeships and, it is hoped, long-term employment.
Andrews Property Group chief executive David Westgate said: “The Business Charity Awards recognise the outstanding contributions made by UK businesses to benefit and support good causes. It is, therefore, an honour to be recognised in this way.
“Our heritage is grounded in ensuring that our work benefits the wider societies in which we operate so when we decided how best to celebrate our 70th anniversary last year, fundraising in order to launch an ambitious housing project to support young people felt entirely like the right thing to do. Importantly, it’s something that we feel our founder, Cecil Jackson Cole – himself a highly regarded social philanthropist – would have been supportive of.”
Cecil Jackson Cole is also known for his role in establishing charities such as Oxfam, Action Aid and Help the Aged.
Pictured at the awards, from left: Presenter, journalist Declan Curry, Andrews Charitable Trust director Sian Edwards, and Andrews chief executive David Westgate
